Prospect stays close, but Chievous lifts ND
Notre Dame presented challenges Prospect had not faced and may not face again this boys basketball season.
And deep into the fourth quarter, the Knights were mounting a serious challenge to knock off the favorite in the 33rd annual Wheeling Wildcat Hardwood Classic in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
Twice the Knights closed within a point. And twice Notre Dame senior star Quinton Chievous made sure the margin didn't get any closer.
Chievous answered each serious threat with scores as the 6-foot-5 senior scored 18 of his game-high 22 points after intermission. The Dons (11-1) scored the final 7 points to pull out a 66-58 victory and keep alive their hopes of a first Wheeling tourney title.
“They're a really good team,” said Prospect senior Terry Redding, who had 11 points and 6 rebounds. “It's always disappointing after a loss and it was nice to be in a close game with those guys, but I felt like we could win this one the whole time.
“Right off the start (8-0 lead) it felt right. It's just disappointing.”
Notre Dame, which suffered its only loss by 6 points to unbeaten Benet, advanced to today's 7:15 p.m. quarterfinal against Libertyville (7-4), a 63-52 winner over Loyola.
“They're the most talented team top to bottom that we've played as far as defensive assignments,” said Prospect coach John Camardella. “But I felt like we had a chance.”
Prospect, which plays Loyola at 3:45 p.m., got 18 points and 6 steals from Mike LaTulip and 11 points from Dan O'Brien. Chievous was backed by 16 points from 6-4 senior Rodney Prior.
“Those two guys were the main guys we had to stop,” Redding said. “I felt like the help (defense) was there most of the night but they're two really good players.”
Chievous suffered a cut on his right wrist in a first half where he shot 2-for-8. But he got rolling with a 3 and a short turnaround to start the second half and give the Dons a 38-27 lead.
“When they started to catch up a bit, my mentality is I'm not going to lose,” Chievous said. “We have a great group of guys and coach (Tom Les) really relies on me in the crucial parts of games.”
There was plenty of evidence in the fourth quarter as Prospect tried to overcome a deficit that was as large as 33-19 in the second quarter.
A driving 3-point play by reserve Brad Reibel and an underhand scoop baseline drive by O'Brien cut it to 52-50 with 5:41 left. Chievous then took an inbound and made a quick spin move for a 3-point play.
“(Chievous) is probably the most athletic, strong player we've played this year,” Redding said.
LaTulip hit a runner, Redding drew a charge on Chievous and LaTulip hit a driving turnaround jumper to cut it to 55-54 with 4:20 left.
Chievous countered with a short driving jumper and Eddie Serrano got a steal and a layup.
Redding hit 2 free throws and forced a five-second call which led to Grant DePalma's baseline drive to get Prospect within 59-58 at 1:44. But 20 seconds later Chievous scored off a missed 3 and Notre Dame hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:08.
“He goes to the glass so hard and he's probably one of the best rebounders we'll play all year,” Camardella said.
“We have to get over that hump,” Redding said. “We've been in games a lot like this before, 1-point games where we can't get over the hump.”